Cascades 501 Wreck 18 December 17

[RenegadeMonster]

Just read on CNN that not all cars have been searched yet due to them not being safe. They have to sure them up to be able to search where they expect the possibility of finding more fatalities

[litz]

I'd be real worried about the ones impacted in those trees ...

I can imagine there's not only a real fear about the cars sliding downhill, but the trees have been knocked down on top of the cars, too ... and those are big trees.

[adamj023]

Overhead footage from KGW, shows pretty much all the approach, and the piled up equipment, with some good closeups.

http://www.kgw.com/news/amtrak-cascades ... /500305839

Something that's interesting is how far up the track from the crash site the investigators are marking "things of interest" on the ground.

Also looks like they destroyed a signal bridge partway through the curve.

I think the line should remain inactive til they figure out the cause. Some causes could require stricter tests of the related infrastructure.

[mirrodie]

Non Amtrak person here...

I know what a genesis is (I think) but what’s a charger?

[RenegadeMonster]

Non Amtrak person here...

I know what a genesis is (I think) but what’s a charger?

These new locomotives: http://w3.usa.siemens.com/mobility/us/e ... eet_lr.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Edit: Apparently that link is no longer valid, just cut and paste it from a MBTA discussion thread from a month or so back.

Here is a article about them and Amtrak that was posted there as well. I'll see if I can find a updated link for the above.

https://media.amtrak.com/2017/08/new-lo ... s-midwest/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Edit2:

Wikipedia writeup on them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_Charger" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[scoostraw]

Non Amtrak person here...

I know what a genesis is (I think) but what’s a charger?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=amtrak+charger" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Telecomtodd]

"That crash spotlit slow progress in implementing positive train control, a technological fail-safe for trains that’s intended to avoid derailments and collisions. In 2008, Congress mandated PTC be in place for all passenger, commuter, and hazardous-materials trains by the end of 2015, but under pressure from railroads, that deadline was extended to the end of 2018. Amtrak said Monday afternoon that PTC was not in effect on the stretch of track where Amtrak 501 derailed. A June 2017 Sound Transit report said installation work was in progress." https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ar ... le/548660/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dgvrengineer]

PTC would not have been any help if the wreck was caused by something on the track that the train struck. It would probably have prevented the wreck if it was caused by excessive speed or some other on board problem.

[Backshophoss]

Any PTC install would follow the BNSF PTC setup as BNSF is the Sounder contractor and both ends of this bypass connect to the BNSF Seattle Sub.
This was a freight branch used to access Fort Lewis and Camp Murry and was restricted limits untill the track was rebuilt.
The Bypass was the Lakeview Sub before the track rebuilding.

[Lincoln78]

Local Mayor checks in with a not helpful non sequitur. I am saddened that Fox found this fit to transmit.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/18/lo ... lment.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to all of you providing good data.

[mirrodie]

Do these trains usually run in a push pull fashion with a genesis at one end and charger at the other?

[Backshophoss]

The Talgo sets are Push-Pull with a NPCU or Talgo cab car on one end,the Charger was on to Break in/crew training before running solo.

[STrRedWolf]

Do these trains usually run in a push pull fashion with a genesis at one end and charger at the other?

They can do push/pull. MARC operates that way and I won't be surprised if the Sounder does as well.

Any more Charger questions may have answers in the Charger thread down the hall.

[8th Notch]

I must say I was never a fan of the bypass to begin with, it was going to save a whopping 10 minutes but take away some great scenery that it passes (including chambers bay) which I felt negated the 10 minutes extra. With that being said, what a horrible way to continue using the old route. I don't think it was going over the speed limit and if they are getting technical about 81 vs 79 that wouldn't have made a difference. Glad the engineer is alright from the sounds of the dispatch comms he sounded just fine.

That was the conductor, he said he hadn't found his engineer (at 0:53) http://komonews.com/news/local/emergenc ... trak-train" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kudos to the conductor for renaming calm and professional despite the circumstance!

[scoostraw]

Pure speculation on my part, but I have not seen any evidence in the photos to indicate that there was anything on the track - or even any track damage at all. In fact the trailing unit and last car stayed on the rails I believe.

Looking at how far that charger unit traveled after leaving the rails, this scenario seems possibly similar to Spuyten Duyvil from several years ago. I'd be interested in what others think, but I don't think this train was moving at 30mph.